Tag: diesel generators

﻿Can Microgeneration Save Money On Your Home Utilities?

People who have become increasingly fed up with the rise in electricity prices in recent times have already switched their supplier to a cheaper alternative but there’s even more good news with some suppliers now prepared to pay for any surplus energy that a household generates itself which can then be sold back to a supplier.

DIY electricity generation is on the increase and there is estimated to be somewhere in the region of 80,000 households who are generating all or some of their own electricity supply in the UK by using rooftop wind turbines and smaller solar powered units. This figure is set to grow now that B&Q have also started selling these kinds of power generators.

To buy a typical wind turbine and have it installed costs around £3000. Larger systems which would enable you to generate enough electricity to sell some back to the supplier could run anywhere between £4000 to £18000 depending on the size. A cheap loan could lead you on the path to self-sufficiency when it comes to power generation and the Government are doing their bit also by offering grants and tax breaks for those who are keen to take up the cause.

Usually, a grant is only given providing that you have already ensured that your home is already as energy efficient as possible but if you qualify, the grant can cover up to 50% of the cost of installing solar panels and up to 30% for other equipment. If you don’t qualify, a cheap loan might be another alternative.

There is still a lot of debate over whether or not microgeneration of this kind will ultimately save you money in the long run. Set up costs aren’t cheap and it may be many years before you’re able to reap the savings benefits.

A meter is installed which works out how much energy you are using and how much is being sent back to the supplier so you can easily work out how much you can save on your energy bills. NPower and Powergen are currently the suppliers which pay you the most for any surplus energy you generate but other suppliers are also getting in on the act. And, even if you’re not generating enough power to have any surplus left over to sell back, you will still save on your energy bills. For example, a 1.4 kw wind turbine with an annual output of 2000 kwh could supply around 60% of the consumption of the average UK home which represents a saving of £200 a year.

Microgeneration isn’t a quick fix solution to the problems of rising electricity costs. However, for those who wish to take action in making the switch to a self-sufficient lifestyle and can afford to do so, the solutions are already out there and being taken up by those who view it as a long-term investment.

﻿Construction Projects and Gas Prices: Plan your budget accordingly

If you have a construction project planned, you may want to adjust your projections to include the impact that will be felt from rising gasoline prices. As the price of motor fuel goes up, so does the price of goods and services that have to be transported to your job site, and that translates into higher prices for construction.

Almost everything related to building projects runs on gasoline. If it costs more this year to fly business passengers across the country in jets that run on gasoline, that also means it will cost more for you to have your construction workers drive back and forth to the construction site each day. Next time you pass one of these gigantic dual-wheel extended cab pickup trucks with the tool box mounted on the back, consider how many construction workers drive commute to and from building sites in those big gas guzzlers. Those workers have to pay for their gas, and if they are getting hit hard in the wallet, they will have no other reasonable option than to pass the higher cost along to you, in the form of higher hourly wages. But not only labor costs more when gas prices spike. In fact, relative to the cost of raw construction materials, labor costs are affected very little. The real impact on your budget will be felt when you go to the lumberyard or home improvement store to buy supplies.

Many of the supplies used to build homes have to be shipped all the way across the country. And many of those supplies are made in factories or manufacturing plants that operate heavy machinery using – you guessed it – gas and oil. So if you are ordering, for example, power tools or generators that run on gasoline, and those are made in a plant that uses gas to fuel its machinery and then ships the heavy tools to you by truck, you are paying for gasoline several times over. It begins to add up a penny and a dime at a time, and can soon send you over your budget. Truckloads of concrete blocks, sheet rock, lumber, and fencing – whatever materials you need to build your house, they are probably coming to you thanks to gasoline-powered transportation. And they may have built-in gas costs even before they are loaded on the truck.

If you have construction plans, don’t’ wait for prices to stabilize. You are better off breaking ground now, while the potential spike in cost per square foot is still a topic of armchair speculation. By the time gasoline hits four dollars a gallon, it will be too late to reconsider your options. But plan ahead, and add another 25-30 percent to your overall budget, to make sure that you leave yourself a comfortable margin of error, in case the costs you listed suddenly go higher. And try to lock in contract agreements for prices of labor and materials now, so that they can’t fluctuate with the price swings that might happen between now and your completion date. That way, if gas prices stabilize, you will be way ahead of the game and might end up with some surplus capital to invest in upgrades or other amenities you didn’t think you could afford.

Every year, the environmental problems are getting worse. Global warming, pollution, and other concerns are now very evident. Many environmentalists are now taking an active part in the hope of saving the world before it’s too late. One way to effectively address such problems is by using solar power. With many households and establishments using generators to back up their power supply, which do you think is the best choice?

Power failure happens in the most unexpected hours and so having a generator can provide the needed power. The portable generators are widely used and you can even find large generators that provide emergency power. If you want to help in reducing pollution and other environmental problems, why don’t you opt for solar power instead?

The initial cost is a very important consideration but you will also need to look in the benefits that you can gain the future. Installing a viable solar power system can be quite expensive than just purchasing a portable generator. However, once you’ve installed the power system, you can already enjoy free unlimited power supply. Maintenance is minimal and you will not spend huge money on it. You don’t need to buy fuel just to run the system because the energy of the sun fuels the solar power system. In a portable generator, you will need to buy fuel to run it and so you will continue to spend money to enjoy power supply.

Generators can be purchased easily, online or locally, and so it’s quite convenient to obtain them. On the other hand, solar power is not that convenient to install and purchase as well. The market for solar power is rather small but because of the technological advancements, the market will soon grow. Today, the best way to obtain solar power kits is through the internet. Anyone can settle for a little bit of inconvenience especially if huge benefits are involved. Besides, after the installation of the solar power system, you don’t need to monitor it often unlike in generators where you will refill the fuel, change the oil and filter, and two times servicing in a year. The solar power system can last for twenty years even with minimal maintenance.

Both solar power and portable generators are efficient. However, when it comes to cost-efficiency, solar power is ahead. As long as the sun shines, energy can be generated. The system can also store energy so that it can be used at night or during rainy days. In a generator, you will need to re-fuel from time to time. You will need to pay for the fuel every time. Sunlight is free but fuel is not and so the cost efficient option is very obvious.

In terms of dependability, solar power and generators are almost the same. Solar power is best used in places where there is bright sunlight all throughout the year. If the period of bad weather is lengthy, all the stored power can be consumed. Generators can be used whether it’s sunny or rainy but the problem lies with the source of fuel. If you can’t refuel the generator, it will not work.

It’s your choice whether you will use solar power or a portable generator. It all depends on your capacity to pay for the device. You can further evaluate these two by reading this article carefully.

﻿Wind Turbine Generators – Free power from mother nature. Maybe we could install it now

Wind generators are one of the most reliable forms of alternative power sources on the planet. They are made to manufacture power by transforming the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy, which is then either harnessed directly (in the case of windmills, for example, which were used to change wheat into flour, or to pump water for farming) or coupled to a generator that creates a DC output that can be used in a more general sense. In this article I will be talking about the type of wind generators that produce electric energy, as this is more useful to us in our daily lives.

Wind turbines are basically large windmills, with gigantic blades that rotate in the wind and produce power from the conversion of the winds force. Wind turbines are manufactured from plastic, aluminium, steel and numerous other space age metals.

Wind turbines have a few negative impacts on the environment. They are very visible, and quite unsightly since they must be put in proximity to windy, open terrain to be useful – attempts to locate them off the coast have been met with great success. They require a great deal of energy in their manufacture, energy which is typically fossil-based, and therefore it can take a considerable amount of time before they are positive in terms of total carbon emissions – this time can be anywhere from 2 to 5 years. Wind turbines are linked to the mauling of rare species of birds that can be mutilated as they pass through the turbine fans during migratory passages.

With all of the downsides aside, wind turbines should be a choice when talking about a broad plan for renewable energy. Once erected, wind turbines are amazingly efficient in a larger sense – they generate power from a natural, eco-friendly renewable resource, without the hidden social or environmental penalties that we incur with the use of fossil fuels – theres no need to mine for fuel or to transport it – there are no global warming pollutants created, and no need to store, process, or to dispose of toxic wastes.

At the small side of the scale, turbines can be as tiny as 5 feet in diameter and are capable of only a few hundred watts. On the high end of the spectrum, turbines can be as huge as three hundred feet in diameter and are capable of generating two to five megawatts of power.

Similar to photovoltaic solar power generation, there might be rebates available for construction, and excess energy can be sold back to the power company.

Wind velocity is impacted by topography and increases with height above the ground, so wind turbines are generally installed on top of large towers. In a typical application, the wind turbine sits on top of a tall tower and generates low voltage DC which is used to charge a battery store – this stored potential energy is ultimately utilized by routing it through an inverter that changes the low voltage direct current power into utility voltage alternating current electricity that can be used in household applications. By concentrating a lot of turbines into wind farms a substantial amount of electricity can be stored and utilized, perhaps for a whole city or town.

Because the wind doesnt blow all of the time in many areas, wind turbines are used as adjuncts in hybrid configurations with many different technologies like photovoltaic panels, and diesel generators to provide a consistent source of electricity.

Dissimilar to fossil-fuel stations, wind turbines are clean and green – they dont create the carbon dioxide emissions that are causing greenhouse gases or the SO2 emissions that cause acid rain.

Todays turbines are divided into 2 categories, namely horizontal turbines and vertica turbines. Todays horizontal axis wind turbines are actually far better at capturing the wind than vertical axis turbines given the same amount of swept area (which is the diameter of the circle traced by the outside tip of the rotor blades).

Wind generators are one of the most reliable forms of alternative power sources on the planet. They are made to manufacture power by transforming the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy, which is then either harnessed directly (in the case of windmills, for example, which were used to change wheat into flour, or to pump water for farming) or coupled to a generator that creates a DC output that can be used in a more general sense. In this article I will be talking about the type of wind generators that produce electric energy, as this is more useful to us in our daily lives.

Wind turbines are basically large windmills, with gigantic blades that rotate in the wind and produce power from the conversion of the winds force. Wind turbines are manufactured from plastic, aluminium, steel and numerous other space age metals.

Wind turbines have a few negative impacts on the environment. They are very visible, and quite unsightly since they must be put in proximity to windy, open terrain to be useful – attempts to locate them off the coast have been met with great success. They require a great deal of energy in their manufacture, energy which is typically fossil-based, and therefore it can take a considerable amount of time before they are positive in terms of total carbon emissions – this time can be anywhere from 2 to 5 years. Wind turbines are linked to the mauling of rare species of birds that can be mutilated as they pass through the turbine fans during migratory passages.

With all of the downsides aside, wind turbines should be a choice when talking about a broad plan for renewable energy. Once erected, wind turbines are amazingly efficient in a larger sense – they generate power from a natural, eco-friendly renewable resource, without the hidden social or environmental penalties that we incur with the use of fossil fuels – theres no need to mine for fuel or to transport it – there are no global warming pollutants created, and no need to store, process, or to dispose of toxic wastes.

At the small side of the scale, turbines can be as tiny as 5 feet in diameter and are capable of only a few hundred watts. On the high end of the spectrum, turbines can be as huge as three hundred feet in diameter and are capable of generating two to five megawatts of power.

Similar to photovoltaic solar power generation, there might be rebates available for construction, and excess energy can be sold back to the power company.

Wind velocity is impacted by topography and increases with height above the ground, so wind turbines are generally installed on top of large towers. In a typical application, the wind turbine sits on top of a tall tower and generates low voltage DC which is used to charge a battery store – this stored potential energy is ultimately utilized by routing it through an inverter that changes the low voltage direct current power into utility voltage alternating current electricity that can be used in household applications. By concentrating a lot of turbines into wind farms a substantial amount of electricity can be stored and utilized, perhaps for a whole city or town.

Because the wind doesnt blow all of the time in many areas, wind turbines are used as adjuncts in hybrid configurations with many different technologies like photovoltaic panels, and diesel generators to provide a consistent source of electricity.

Dissimilar to fossil-fuel stations, wind turbines are clean and green – they dont create the carbon dioxide emissions that are causing greenhouse gases or the SO2 emissions that cause acid rain.

Todays turbines are divided into 2 categories, namely horizontal turbines and vertica turbines. Todays horizontal axis wind turbines are actually far better at capturing the wind than vertical axis turbines given the same amount of swept area (which is the diameter of the circle traced by the outside tip of the rotor blades).

﻿Interior Of Recreational Vehicles

The recreational vehicles and camping cars are getting popular amongst the adventure freaks. With these vehicles, one can experience the comfort and luxury, despite of the camping site’s rough environment.

The interior of the recreational vehicles plays a major part in a comfortable stay.

A recreational vehicle normally comprises of a bed, bathroom, small kitchen area, and some storage space.

A luxurious recreational vehicle may comprise of a living room with table, TV, kitchen with microwave, refrigerator and a master bedroom with a large and cozy bed.

The bathrooms are spacious and are fitted with a shower. The toilets are generally the portable ones, which can be detached and cleaned at a sanitary station.

There are several terms involved in the interior of the recreational vehicles. The toilets generally have a Black water tank in which the waste water from the toilet is stored.

The kitchens of recreational vehicles have the Grey Water tanks. These are used to store the waste water from the shower and kitchen sinks.

The most important equipments in the interior of the recreational vehicle are the generators and the converters. The generator can be petrol, propane or diesel operated.

It generates AC voltage, which is very useful in dry camping and in the middle of the travel. The converter takes the AC voltage from the generator or the campsite hookups and converts it into DC voltage. This voltage is used by the electrical equipments in RV.

House batteries turn out as one more source of DC voltage source. The batteries have a smaller capacity of 12 volts DC. The batteries are charged by the vehicle batteries.

The inverters take the DC voltage from house batteries and convert into AC. This voltage is used by the electronic equipments which need an AC voltage.

﻿Generator Field Study

Generators are essential for fieldwork done by consultants often exposed to remote areas where electricity is not available. A Goscor Engines customer recently did an intensive study to establish which generators are suitable for use with sensitive equipment such as the Cedip product range where spike and dips in power supply are very unhealthy for the equipment used. Prior to doing the comparative study the customer, working in the field as a logistics consultant, used battery supplies as equipment power source. He found battery supply as power source extremely limiting due to limited battery life. Subsequently the consultant tried using UPS as a power supply especially when he did demonstration work but also found that time is a factor as the UPS also ran out of power, often at crucial points during a demonstration. Traditional generators were not suitable either as dips and spikes occurs damaging the sensitive equipment used during demonstrations. New generation (Inverter technology) generators were therefore considered as it includes power saving mode, are capable of delivering increased power on demand and are also equipped with a built in inverter circuit that protects sensitive electronics. These generators also have a 12V output, which is great especially when batteries have to be charged. Light-weight, compact in size and low noise levels are also an advantage especially when field demonstrations are done. “Based on price and performance if I was looking for a system to operate my field set-up, I would opt for the Robin Subaru Generator. I did a demo for our Department of Environmental Affairs (Marine and Coastal Management – Anti-poaching task force) using the Robin, and it performed beautifully” said the client. The set-up included: 1 x JADE LR 1 x pc (laptop) 1 x 21″ LCD TV screen 1 x Video recorder 1 x light fitting Robin Subaru R1700i generator The generator did not switch up to provide additional power. It remained in low power mode, thus providing more than 5 hours continuous use with no need to top up the petrol. The demonstration took place less than 10 meters from the generator, and could hardly be heard above the conversation level. The only advantage of the more expensive generators, is that if you require a higher power rating than offered by the single generator, you can purchase an optional extension that allows you to connect two generators of the same model and rating in parallel, thus putting out double the power rating of a single generator. The output remains clean, spike-free and in phase.

﻿Industrial Diesel Engines

Industrial diesel engines are any engines that are used for industrial purposes that run on diesel. Industrial diesel engines are used to power a major portion of industrial machinery, from motorbikes to bulldozers, generators, and even forklifts and trucks. They range in size from a few pounds to a few tons, with a various amount of power.

The use of diesel engines is mandated by several large organizations. All NATO machinery for example, runs on either diesel or aviation grade kerosene. At the current level of technology, fossil fuels, and especially diesel are the most economical and convenient means of supplying power to a variety of equipment and even backup generators.

All industrial diesel engines can be either air cooled or water cooled. The smallest engines for residential purposes will typically provide about 10kW and cost a few thousand USD. These smaller scale engines power much of the mobile machinery we see around us on a daily basis, such as trucks, farm equipment, small boats, stationary process machinery, earth movers, and so on.

The medium scale industrial diesel engines can provide levels between a few hundred kW and a few thousand kW and are sold for prices in usually the thousands of dollars. These types are used in larger machinery such as larger mining equipment, oil rigs, trains, large boats, military equipment, and much more.

The largest of industrial diesel engines provide 10,000 to 80,000 kW, sold in the millions of dollars, and are used for ultra heavy equipment, electric power generation, and the largest of ships. Large industrial engines can be up to 49 feet side and run on low grade diesels. In places such as China, where there is a high demand for de-centralized power sources, these types of engines are often utilized.

Industral engines are classified in terms of their speed, or RPM (Rotations Per Minute). High RPM engines are normally used for the lighter, more common applications, such as trucks and other types of land equipment.

Medium RPM engines are generally used for power generation. Low RPM ranges, and high torque engines are used for the biggest type of equipment, such as marine equipment and applications.

For the most part, industrial diesel engines can vary in terms of size and performance. Chances are, you’ve either seen or used industrial equipment at some point in time. Although they cost a lot of money, they are the way to go with bigger equipment for getting the job done right the first time.

﻿Deciding Whether To Hire A Winnebago In England

Motorhome touring holidays are becoming more and more popular in England and Europe and many people consider hiring an American type vehicle such as a Winnebago instead of the home grown British or European models produced by companies such as Swift or Elddis.

Before deciding to hire a winnebago for use in England however, it is worthwhile considering the arguments for and against. It should be noted that Winnebago is actually a manufacturer’s name even though it is now used as a generic term for American Motorhome and there are many other makers, such as Airstream. While considering the hire of such a vehicle it is wise to consider switching to an English equivalent if the circumstances warrant it. Let us consider the pros and cons of the American motorhome against the British equivalent.

Winnebago motorhomes are left hand drive whilst English vehicles are right hand drive , this is a definite disadvantage if you are intending to stay in the uk , however if you are going to mainland Europe the winnebago is more suitable. Winnebago vehicles are also long vehicles, designed for the u.s. roads which are wider and much straighter than English roads, you would not want to make a three point turn on an English road in a winnebago although many have rearward facing cameras to aid you in this task. Winnebago engines are designed for u.s. gas prices, whether diesel or petrol the fuel consumption will be high and must be factored into your decision.The side door on an american vehicle will open onto the road instead of the pavement or verge when used in England, this could be a major safety issue, especially if you are taking children with you. Although reliable Winnebagos can break down just like any other motor vehicle and spares availabilty can be limited in the U.K. with many parts having to be shipped in from America expertise in repairing these vehicles can also be scarce.

On the other hand winnebago motorhomes are more spacious with many having slide out sides ( for use whilst parked) which create huge living areas, they are normally fully equipped with air conditioning, central heating, showers, hook up for waste, tv, electricity, separate bedrooms, built in generators, aouto-levelling air jacks, lcd televisions, automatic transmission, air suspension, separate dining areas and roof deck seating. In general they are much more luxurious than their British counterparts, they also tend to have more powerful engines.It should however be noted that if the morohome weighs more than 7.5 tonnes you will not be able to drive it ona a normal car drivers licence , you will need a class “C” truck licence.

You therefore have to choose whether the static advantages of a winnebago are more important than the drawbacks of fuel consumption, maneuverability, safety etc in coming to the decision of whether to hire a winnebago or whether to go for an English motorhome. Whichever you choose you are bound to enjoy the freedom of the road, that outdoor camping feelgood factor and the ever changing scenery as you tour the countryside.

﻿The Inside of the Recreational Vehicle

The recreational vehicles and others known as camping cars are becoming very popular. They are going to be a great tool for anyone looking for a great adventure. There will be comfort and space for anyone looking for a great camping trip.

The inside of the recreational vehicle is going to be having a big part in your comfortable stay.

Having a recreational vehicle is going to have a bed, bathroom, smaller kitchen area, and some storage areas.

Having a luxurious recreational vehicle is going to have a living room with a table, TV, kitchen and even a microwave. You can expect a master bedroom as well with a great cozy bed.

The bathrooms are going to have a spacious shower and the toilets are going to be portable. You can detach them and clean the area any time you want.

There are going to be different terms that are involved with the inside of the recreational vehicles. The toilets are going to have a Black water tank that will hold the waster water.

The kitchens are going to have recreational vehicles that have Grey water tanks. They are going to be used to store the water from the shower and the kitchen sinks that is waste.

One of the most important pieces of equipment in the interior of the recreational vehicle is the generators and the converters. The generators can be petrol, propane, or diesel.

They will generate AC voltage and will be useful in dry camping and in the middle of the travel. The converter is going to take the AC voltage from the generator of the campsite hookups and converts it into DC voltage. The voltage is going to be used by the electrical equipments in the RV.

House batteries are going to turn out as another source of DC voltage. The batteries have a smaller capacity of 12 volts DC. The vehicle batteries can charge the batteries.

The inverters will take the DC voltage from the house and convert it into AC. The equipment that needs to have the AC voltage to run will use this type of voltage.

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Madelyn

Hey there and welcome to my blog. I've always been fascinated with major industry that supplies life to all of us abut also some personal likes which you will find in different categories. My father has a business though with generators and asked me if I could build a blog for him so I put one together for him so here it is. This will grow over time with related and unrelated posts because I like to write about my own stuff as well so please have a read, enjoy our posts and leave us some comments